Better Health

I don't really make "resolutions"  in January more of a list of internal promises to myself that I can keep track of...things I want to do, change, see, improve upon, goals,etc...one of those goals was to be better about what Bryan and I ate and what my kids ate...more organic, more homeade, no more Diet Coke  for me (that has been hard) little to no sugar and NO HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup), that stuff grosses me out and it is in almost everything we eat!  It has been banned in other countries but not here in the USA, lucky us! Don't get me wrong, I love to bake, I love to have a great cupcake or warm cookies for the kids when they get home for school, and I really don't want to deprive my kids of Easter candy but I can be more intentional about what I buy and how often they eat "treats" and making sure that the occassional "treat" is as whole as can be.  I have managed to cut sugar out of our diets for the most part (still a work in progress) and have given up my Diet Cokes too...I would like to think that we eat pretty well overall, I rarely have "junk" (chips,store bought cookies, etc...) here and when my kids want cookies or something sweet, I try and make it myself and use sugar-free/low-sugar recipes.  I went through all my food and threw anything with HFCS out as well as candy, crackers and even condiments that had sugar in them...it did not leave too much, sad but true.  I have added two great websites that I have been using when grocery shopping, they provide lists of food without HFCS.  I also follow a great blog who is posting recipes that are sugar free (and meat free, if interested) reguarly.  I could go on and on here  - and I still believe in the everything in moderation theory too!  Let me know what you think...do you buy organic, allow sugar, drink diet coke?  Do you think HFCS is as groass as I do?  Share!

http://www.stophfcs.com/
http://www.highfructosehigh.com/
http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com/

American Girl Trip

Arriving at the hotel after dinner...the girls were giddy with excitement to find friend-friend/doll-doll matching Valentine pjs...super cute, found on Etsy, I really want to learn to sew!  While jen pre-occupied the girls, I went up to the room and set out their treat buckets and wrapped jammies...I left my camera in the car for the big reveal, I wish I had pictures - they were so cute!  jen and I are kindered spirits she loves to froof and fluff as much as me!

Jen thought the Mommies should have matching pjs too...

Good morning Chicago...we are off to American Girl!

Capture your "Inner Star" girls!

Brunch...

A Birthday for Bitty Baby's Bear...make your own tiara, pink and purple cupcakes and a giant card to sign!

And...new outfits, ear piercing for Holyn's doll and lots of shopping fun...it was a great Valentine treat to share this special fun with my sweet Charlotte,  Miss Holyn and her Mommy Jen-Jen !  

So much fun making memories with you girls! 

Charlotte's Room

Having fun playing with Charlotte's room...it was time for a "spruce-up"/ Spring cleaning!  I hope to a) be feeling better b) have her room all redone and touched-up by the end of the weekend!

Learningsphere

Campbell, we are so proud of you and your Learningsphere project - good effort!  You should be very proud of both your teacher's and the judges comments!  We love you, Mom and Dad

Sick

We have been down and out with the stomach flu here...first the big kids (Charlotte missed her Royal Ball -see post below) and now little Christian, and my right hand is travelling today/tonight....yuck!  And is it not the most pathetic thing to watch a little one throw-up?~  We are soooo ready for Spring here (as it snows right now), for fresh air...bye-bye germs, for flowers, birds chirpping, and SUNSHINE!  This too shall pass...in the meantime I'll leave you with a picture of my favorite fruit right now.  These "cuties" are sooo good and we are going through them like crazy,  kept hoping all the extra Vitamin C would fend off the illness, no such luck!

Royal Ball

Daddy-Daughter Dance tonight...Charlotte is so excited to go to the "ball" with her prince!  She and Daddy are double-dating and the little princesses will get small nose-gays of pink roses...wrapped with ribbon to match their dresses!  It will be a very special night!

Sweet Love

What a happy Valentines Day we had...after the kids Valentine parties at school the week wrapped-up and we were off for to our American Girl weekend in Chicago. Charlotte and I arrived home to homeade construction paper hearts hung from the ceiling, and roses (a dozen for me and a dozen for Charlotte!), homeade cards and a clean house - all done by our boys!  Sunday was spent as a family - we ate yummy, pink heart shaped pancakes and for dinner we had heart shaped pizza, and heart shape cc cookies (kids choice!). After our little "Valentines" were all tucked in Bryan and I snuggled by the fire, popped some bubbly and enjoyed a yummy chocolate mousse!  In these quiet moments I am reminded how rich my life is, how happy I am deep down inside, how many blessings have been bestowed upon me, how completely and deeply madly-in-love with my husband I am....how my kids give me way more than I give them...I just feel so lucky and so grateful that God choose this life for me! Love, Love, Love...

Birthday Blessings

I turned 37 yesterday...I am one lucky gal!  My hubby and kids (and friends!) spoiled me rotten and I just feel so blessed to have their love day in and day out.  Highlights included:
waking up to OJ brought to me by my little Campbell - IN BED (no less!), the kids giving me the thoughtful gift of music - TAYLOR SWIFT (I suspect more for them...hee, hee...), Bryan surprising me by taking the day off of work, fresh strawberry crepes and a great latte!...Meeting some  fellow "Aquarius"  friends for coffee and lots of laughs and a trip to Hobby Lobby.  Finding a "surprise" gift from my friend who sneek-ily (not a word, I know!) left it by my back door!...The kids wanted to take me to Red Robin for dinner (how cut is that?!), so off we went.  We had a yummy dinner and yummy "mile-high" pie, it was a great night and a great day.  I heard from lots of friends and family which I love.  Thanks everyone for blessing me with your love.

My beautiful family...minus our Daddy the photog!

Lip Lites

Its late, I'm tired and realized it has almost been a week since my last post. I adore blogging, I am pretty sure I could read/write all day long, except I have a family that needs to eat.  Anyway, I am working on our American Girl trip as well as our Happy Valentine's Day posts but in the meantime I just had to share my newest, most favorite find...

Made by Bonne Bell...it is yummy tasting, stays on great but is not gummy, great sheen and is so cheap!  Under $5!  I am loving the Mocha  Mousse and hope to try some other shades as well.  I LOVE lip gloss and a girl can never have too many, so go and treat yourself to a little "happy".

Very Special Valentine...

I am so excited...I have been hard at work planning a very special Valentine's Day surprise...not for my original Valentine (Bryan) but for my little Charlotte!  She and I and her bestie (Holyn) and her Mom, (Jen) are headed to Chicago Friday night for a big hotel sleepover...a fun night of manis/pedis and dinner out !  Of course both American Girl dollies will be in tow so matching pjs for the girls and dolls were a must!  Jen and I also prepared some fun treat buckets for the girls with all the essentials- nail polish, lip gloss, heart shaped suckers, pink gumballs and Barbie notebooks, Valentine bracelets too!  After our big slumber party we'll wake-up and head down the street to American Girl for breakfast and a little shopping treat!  Of course, Jen and I hope to squeeze in a little Nordstrom time too!  (we'll see...ha, ha!).  I am not sure who is more excited me or Charlotte?!  I have always wanted to be a Mother and always hoped that God would bless me with both a Son and Daughter and ...and he heard my prayers, 2 amazing sons and 1 beautiful  little girl!  Anyway, from the moment she was born I looked forward to the days that would bring tea parties, dress-up and dolls - all things pink and frilly and so, so girl!  I love playing with my boys and can tell you most anything about a superhero, Star Wars or the sport of football but there is just something so special about the girly stuff.  Charlotte has never had a sleepover before and these girls have never experienced American Girl together so it will be a very special Valentine's weekend !  Can't wait to share pics next week!

Sunshine Award...

Blog Award







I want to thank KK  over at Pink, Green & Southern  over at  for this lovely blog award. This winter has been tough and I could use a little sunshine!  She has a wonderful blog and I have loved getting to "know her"!

Thanks again for this lovely award!  So, what brings me sunshine on a daily basis?!....Belly laughs from my kids, a hot shower, my first cup of coffee every morning and kisses from my hubby!

Superbowl Sunday

GO COLTS!

Our little "Peyton Manning"

Halloween 2009

My Love...

Not too much to report this week, I have been a single Mom whil my love travelled...it is always a long week and I love when I am back to sharing my parent responsibilities.  In other news, my sweet Bryan is in surgery as I type (from his hospital room)...he is having outpatient sinus surgery - not pleasant but soooo needed, I swear he ill feel like a new man.  Poor guy has had one looonnnngggg sinus infection for the last 9 or so months!  My parents are here helping with the kids today...thanks Mom and Dad!  I have lots of "projects" in the hopper and hope to get some things accomplished soon.  Just heard the new baby "chime" here at the hospital...the hospital where I had 2/3 babies - I rang that same chime!  It is a tradition here and I love to hear it!  Speaking of babies...my friend Jessica gave birth 6 weeks early yesterday to a precious baby girl she named "Gwyneth"....after a very long journey following numerous miscarriages, they adopted a little boy who will turn 1 in April and shortly thereafter got pregnant and carried this baby up until yesterday when she could not wait any longer to meet her new family!  Is God not great or what?!

PS - Someone PLEASE tell me where to find the spell check on this new Blogger screen - ugh!!!!  I am sure I have plenty of type-os!